Pump



Feb. 5, 19

L. c. ROTTER ET AL 2,394,486

PUMP

Filed 001:. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. ROTTER ET AL 2,394,486

PUMP

Filed Oct. 5 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

Patented F eb. 5, 1946 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE Lutwin C. Rotter,Maplewood, and .Victor G.

,Klein, St. Louis, ,Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St.Louis, .M a corpora- ;tion of Missouri This invention relates topumps,and with reard to certain more specific features, to improvements uponthe United States patent of VictorG.;Klein andJonathan'Kludt, No.2,280,- .708, dated April 21, i1942,'f01 Pump; and :upon the pumpdisclosed in the United States patent application of the inventorsherein, Serial No. 395,136, filed Mayzfi, 1941, eventuated asPatentNo.:2,348,151,.datedMay2, 19 4.4. Among the several objects of theinvention may be-notedthe provisionof animprovedpump for pumping a wide:range of materials from containers to applicator nozzles and the like,in which a load-carrying grease follower is pneumaticallypressed forpump priming, and in which the Weight effect of said .load isneutralized; the provision of .a device-of the class described whichavoids sinking of thefollower into lubricant, regardless of lubricantconsistency; the provision of a device of the class described whichobtains even flow of lubricant; and the'provision of simplified valvemeans for carrying out said neutralization. Other :objects will be inpart obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the .elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in thestructur-es hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying. drawings, inwhich is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on lines 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. .3 is -an -,end view of the parts Fig. 2, viewed from theleft;

Fig. 4 is a'vertical section of a control valve shownin midposition;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing said valve in a positionto admit pressure for forcing down'a follower;

Fig. 6 is a view-similarto Fig. 5,, showing :the valve in a position toraise the follower;

Fig. 7 is anenlarged fragmentary plan view of a control nozzle;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a left-end view of Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

.Referringnowmore particularlyto :Fig. 1,.there is :shown at .numeral Ia base which carriesfasshown in teners "3, :for holding .downwa.zcomm'erc'ial rdrum 5 of lubricant, caulking compound or the like.Standards Tonthe base I support a raised-platform 9. Supported on top ofthe platform ".9 is a :vertical cylinder '11, within which operates apiston 13 on apiston :rod 15. The rod-l5 at the bottom passes outthrough a suitable packing and isjoinedwith a frame H. This frame I!supports a reciprocatingair:engine i9. Engine l9 operatesthe'piston'rod2| of a pump unit 23, the latter being bolted to .a lubricant followerplate-25. The plate "25 contacts the surface of lubricant or 1the'likein any open container 5 placed upon 'the'base 1 ,:and contacts looselywith its inside periphery. iIt prevents cratering of lubricant.

.Thus it will be seen =that-the members 43,15, 1:1, :19, 2.3 and25constitute amovable unit which maybe lifted up ,or pressed down by airbelow or above-the piston 13. 'Air forjforcing this assembly downward isbrought ,to the upper end of the cylinder 1! bya pipeaconnection 2-1. Aconnection 29 leads air' to the bottom 'of said cylinder I 1.Connections :21! and 29 lead. :to .a hand'lcontrol'valve 3| which isshown in Fig. 1 and detailed in-Figs-l, 5 and 6.

Air for the pipe-21 isbrought-to-the valve 3| by a pipe 33 leading froma manifold block 35. In pipe 33' is a regulating pressure-reducer -39,which is manuallyadjustable. Air for the .pipe

29is brcught tothe valve 3-! by "apipe 31. AtM

is shown themain air supply line for the manifold 35, in which is ashut-off valve 42.

A: pressure pipe :43 leads from the-manifold 35 and :in it is a solenoidcontrol valve 45. ,At A! is a take-off for .a flexible air supply hose49 supplying .airto'the engine i9. Themanifold is connected with an aircylinder-51 (shown more particularly'inFigs'2 and 3) by a pipe. Thiscylinder 5! is carried on the platform It carriesa piston' 53 on apiston rod 55 whlchpasses from the cylinder 5| into connection with aplunger 51 ina surge cylinder .59, the cylinder '59 being carried on thesame frame B'Las iscarried the cylinder 5 I. The cylinder 59 isconnected with afpipe 63. A flexible hose B5 is-connected to the 'outlet61 of the pump .23 and receives pumped lubricant and delivers to afiexiblehose 13 via aconnectionfiB, with which pipe 63 com- :municatesjThus plunger 51 is exposed .to fluid pressurefrom the pump-23.

The lubricant hose 13 leads to a control valve (15 shown; in-Figs. 1and. 7-9. It consists ina man,- ifoldbody 11-1 traversed by a; slidevalve :19 nor- ;mally biased shut b a spring 81. The valve :iS

under control of a handle 83 which upon pressurev opens the valve 19.The handle 83 has an adjustable extension 85 for cooperating with aswitch 81, the arrangement being such that the 1 switch 81 is closedwhen the valve 15 is opened,

and vice-versa. Thus an electric line 89 organized with the hose I3 andleading to the solenoid valve 45"is closed. This opens the valve 45 toadmit air from the line 4| for operating the en gine I9. Thus the pump23 is operated to compress lubricant over the lines 69 and I3 and outthrough the then open valve I9.

plunger 51 against the charge of air behind the piston 53 (Fig. 2).

In the line 42 leading from the manifold 3-5 Any pump surges arecompensated for by movement of the:

For example, if the air pressure were the head of the cylinder 5I torelieve nressure when desired. For example, if the regulator 44 has beenproviding a relatively high pressure and it is desired to regulate it toprovide a relatively lower pressure, it will be necessary to open thevent 46 temporarily to relieve said relatively high pressure, becausethe ordinary'pressure regulator does not have facilities for releasing apressure higher than that for which it is regulated at a given time. 7Thus it willbe seen that the construction of Figs. 2 and 3 is a verysimple one for obtaining an effective reduction in surge due toreciprocating action of the pump 23, and this under various fieldconditions met with.

The valve 3| (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) consists in a body portion 9| bored outto receive a slide valve 93, the latter being grooved as shown at 95 fordetent cooperation with a spring-biased ball 91.

When the ball 91 is in the groove as indicated at Fig. 4, the valve isin mid position;

The stem '93 is cylindric except where fiat as indicated at 99 forcooperation with sealing washers "II in cups I93 forming parts ofnipples I05. Springs I Il'Iv in the cups I 05 normally biasthe washers IIII into sealing engagement with the the spring I2I. The amount of thispressure is predetermined by the weight of the organized parts I3, I5,II, I9, 23 and 25. v this is to prevent the'weight of said parts fromexerting a downward bias on the lubricant follower 25. V Operation is asfollows: v 7 Valve 3I is pushed down as in Fig. 5. I Desired airpressure is supplied to the line 4Ias determined by a gauge 35 onmanifold 35. Regulator 44 reducesthis pressure inline 42 andconsequently on compensatorpiston 53. Regulator 39 reduces the linepressure in pipes 33, 21 and consequently on the top of the'piston I3.When the hand valve I5 is opened, the switch 8'! closes and energizesthe electric line 89. This opens the solenoid valve 45 to admit full airline pressure to the flexible enginesupply hose 49. This starts theengine I9 into operation, and biases the piston 53 and the plunger 51.The follower 25 is pushed down because of air flowing over pipe 21 tothe'top of piston I3. Air exhausts over line 29 from beneath piston I3and releases at a predetermined pressure because of throttle valve I I9.The predetermined pressure at which the throttlevalve I I9 releases hasa value which will be discussed further in the next paragraph. Lubricantis pumped out from under follower 25 by pump 23' over the lines 65, I3to the open valve, and the pressure of'any surges are compensated for bythe resiliency of the air at adjusted pressure behind the piston 53 andplunger When enough lubricanthas been obtained, the

valve 75 is cut on- This also opens the switch 31 and closes thesolenoid valve 45. Thus the engine I9 stops and this preventsbuildingupof unnecessary pressure in the lines 65 and I3. At this time,valve 3| may be set at its upper position (Fig. 4) and hence the pipe 29is out oii from the inlet and from exhaust in valve 3 I.

This also cuts oirsupply air from pipe 21 and valve II9 while the valvewas exhausting. This 7 7 pressure is predetermined by the Spring IZI atWhen the stem 93 is up (Fig; 6), the port ms connects pipes 31 and 29.Also, when one set of pipes 33, 2'! or 31, 29 is connected the other isdisconnected from the air pressure supply.

In'addition, when the stem 93 is up (Fig. 6),

' the pipe 21 may exhaust via a groove I I 3, port exhaust from the pipe29 (from the bottom of the piston I3) must be at a pressuredetermined'by a unit value such that the total pressure 'force pushingup on'the piston I3 is equal to'the.

weight of the parts I3, I5, I1, I9, 23 and 25. Thussaid parts (whenequilibrium is reached on piston I3); although they contact the surfaceof the material in the drum 5, donot sink into the material for anysubstantial" distance, and

consequently no hydraulic floating arrangement l g is required,regardless of the consistency of the material. The predetermined'airpressure under piston I3 prevents sinking. At the same time nocounterweights are needed, which leads to a considerable weightreduction and enhances portability. I

It will be seen that for thinner fluids carried in the container 5 theregulator 39 maybe adjusted for lower pressures above-the piston I3;

and for heavier fluids it is adjusted 'for higher I pressures. The totalweight of the parts I3; I5,

pump 23 is thus always equal to the total load brought about by the unitair pressure on the topof the piston I3, which may be closely controlledfrom the regulator 39; Without balanc ing pressure under the piston I3,it would not'b'e' The purpose of possible to obtain a range of pressureadjustments on the fluid in the container below values predetermined bythe weight of parts I3, l5, l1, I9, 23 and 25. By means of thisinvention, it is possible to take advantage of this range.

When the valve 93 is pushed up above the mid position (Fig. 6) the portI09 connects the pipes 31 and 29, which has the effect of placing linepressure under the piston I3 while air from the top may exhaust, asalready made clear. Since the solenoid valve 45 is beyond the manifold35, it is seen that the pipes 29 and 31 are always supplied with air atline pressure. lifts the assembly I5, I'I, I9, 2|, 23 and 25 against anysuction on 25 in container 5 The empty drum 5 may then be removed and afull one inserted.

It will be seen that the dead weight of the assembly on the piston rodI5 is supported by air trapped beneath the piston I3, thus preventingthe follower 25 from gradually sinking into such lubricant as may nothave a consistency adapted to support said weight. Also the range ofpressure control on follower 25 is considerably extended into thesmaller values. Also the air trapped under piston I3 at the pressureallowed by the valve H9 prevents the necessity of designing the follower25 so as to float any weight upon it, because that weight is balanced bysaid air pressure under said piston I3. At the same time, the valve H9releases air from under the piston I 3' under influence of air pressurefrom the line H brought to the top of the piston I3 via lines 33 and 21.Thus at any position in its stroke, the piston I3 is supported by thetrapped air under it with a force counterbalancing the weight of theassembly supported from the rod I5.

It will be noted that the valve H9 is effective as a pressure limitingdevice only when the stem 93 of valve 3! is entirely down, that is, whenthe latter is admitting pressure to the top of the piston I3. When thevalve is in neutral position, such as shown in Fig. 4, which is itsnormal position when the device is idle, this valve is cut off fromcommunication with the underside of the piston I 3, but it will be clearthat the air pressure retained under the piston I 3 is that which willcounterbalance the gravity load, thus relieving the follower 25 of anyfunction of floating on the lubricant the gravity weight of connectedparts.

Also, priming of the pump 23 is effected only by the degree of airpressure on the top of piston I3, and not by the gravity weight of partson the follower 25. Thus, the priming pressure may be controlled at willto the smallest values, and is not dependent in any way upon saidweight. This makes the device effective on a wide range of materials ofvarious consistencies.

It is to be understood that the regulator 44 is adjusted to a pressurein the cylinder 5| which is low enough to prevent the piston 53 frombeing pushed to the outermost end of its stroke (to the left in Fig. 2),but high enough that the piston is not pushed to the innermost end ofits stroke (to the right in Fig. 2). This allows for a range of movementwhich will allow for volume changes which compensate surge pressures.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved'and othe advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions Withoutdeparting from the scope This forcibly of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for pumping, and applying controlled priming pressure toliquid and semi-liquid materials of various consistencies carried incontainers, comprising a movable follower located above the material ina container and contacting with the material surface at various levelsassumed by its surface, a pump assembled with and carried by thefollower and pumping material from under it, a cylinder above thefollower, a movable piston in said cylinder, said piston being connectedwith the pump and follower assembly and adapted to lift or depress it,separate fluid supply connections from a fluid supply line to points insaid cylinder above and below said piston respectively, exhaustconnections from the cylinder above and below th piston respectively,control means for said supply and exhaust connections, said controlmeans being adapted to transmit fluid from said supply line to one endof the cylinder while venting its other end to its exhaust and viceversa, and pressure resistance means associated with that exhaustconnection which is below the piston, said resistance means beingadapted at all times to maintain exhaust pressure below the piston at apredetermined value substantially to counterbalance the weight of thepump and follower assembly so as to prevent it from sinking of its ownweights into the material, regardless of the consistency of thematerial.

2. Apparatus for pumping, and applying controlled priming pressure toliquid and semi-liquid materials of various consistencies carried incontainers, comprising a movable follower located above the material ina container and contacting with the material surface at various levelsassumed by its surface, a pump assembled with and carried by thefollower and pumping material from under it, a cylinde above thefollower, a movable piston in said cylinder, said piston being connectedwith the pump and follower assembly and adapted to lift or depress it,separate fluid supply connections from a fluid supply line to points insaid cylinder above and below said piston respectively, exhaustconnections from the cylinder above and below the piston respectively,control means for said supply and exhaust connections, said controlmeans being adapted to transmit fluid from said supply line to one endof the cylinder while venting its other end to its exhaust and viceversa, and pressure resistance means associated with that exhaustconnection which is below the piston, said resistance means beingadapted at all times to maintain exhaust pressure below the piston at apredetermined value substantially to counterbalance the weight of thepump and follower assembly so as to prevent it from sinking of its ownweight into the material, regardless of the consistency of the material,and adjustable pressure-reducing and regulating means in said supplyline connection above the piston, whereby a full range of primingpressures may be applied to a material from low values to the highest ofwhich the apparatus is capable.

LUTWIN C. ROTTER. VICTOR G. KLEIN.

